Little Girl Can't Let go as Sergeant Daddy Leaves For Iraq

by Tom Henderson (Subscribe to Tom Henderson's posts) Oct 7th 2009 3:30PM

Categories: Preschoolers, In The News, Amazing Kids

Paige Bennethum and Dad Soldier

Paige Bennethum, 4, holds her daddy's hand as he lines up in formation before heading to Iraq. Credit: Abby Bennethum

Some things are just not allowed when soldiers are standing in formation. One of them is 4-year-old girls.

However, there was no soldier stern enough to pry Paige Bennethum of Laureldale, Pa. from her father as he prepared to leave last July for a year-long deployment in Iraq.

Abby Bennethum captured her daughter's emotions in a photograph that she passed along to the Reading Eagle, the newspaper in Berks County, Pa. The image immediately captured many other people's emotions.

Army Reserve Staff Sgt. Brett Bennethum was preparing to depart from Fort Dix, N.J., for Iraq, leaving behind his pregnant wife and two little girls. His family was there to see him off. His commanding officer didn't have the heart to tell Paige she had to let go of her daddy.

"I didn't want to let go of him," she told NBC Philadelphia.

Sgt. Bennethum, 30, is scheduled to return home next July. Until then, he's transporting supplies across the Iraqi border. He serves with the 733rd Transportation Company based in Reading, Pa.

Abby Bennethum said she got pregnant right before her husband left for Iraq. "I've heard of deployment babies, but I never thought I'd be having one," she told the Reading Eagle. The couple's other daughter, Lena, is just 10 months old.

Staff Sgt. Bennethum got a four-day pass so he could spend some quality time with his family and they could make the two-hour trip to Fort Dix to see him off. Almost immediately upon arrival, his commanding officer ordered the soldiers to fall in.

"Gotta go," he told his family. But Paige walked up behind him in formation, grabbed his right hand and would not let go.

"I called her a couple of times, but she wouldn't budge," her mother said. She still wishes she was holding her father's hand.

"I just miss my dad right now," Paige told NBC.

Source

Comments (522)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 27)

Mary Sullivan 10-07-2009 @ 2:30PM

Instant tears for me. Like all great photos, it says so much than words ever could. Here's my wish for today: Not a single person posts, on this thread, a political comment, a hateful comment, or a deliberately outrageous comment to grab attention....instead, we all just look at that photo and appreciate the sacrifices our servicemen and women are making.

John K. 10-08-2009 @ 2:23PM

May God Bless you Mary,,that photo and your comment says it all !
Let us all pray for a safe return of our brave men and women.

Yolanda 10-08-2009 @ 2:25PM

God Bless them all and bring them all home safely, my son is leaving for Iraq on October 25, me and my husband will see him off and I know my heart is going to break right then and there but I am so proud of him and all the soldiers. God Bless them all

jodysandiego 10-08-2009 @ 2:23PM

Wow...as a submariners wife and Mother of a two year old and four month old, this picture brought instant tears to my eyes. My family struggles with this issue too and anyone who wouldve pulled that little girl away wouldve been a monster! This photo speaks volumes about our serving military and their familes! Support our troops!

MJ Wilhite 10-08-2009 @ 2:38PM

Thank you!! And well stated!

Jonesy 10-08-2009 @ 2:29PM

Brought tears to my eyes too, but for different reasons. My family has a very similar pic of my older sister (who died at age 48 in 2001) in formation in Germany with my Dad, who was a career soldier, stationed there at the time (he also died in 2001). Judy was about 4 at the time the picture was taken. I guess Daddy's girls are still a time honored tradition.

Linda 10-08-2009 @ 2:30PM

Ditto Mary. Instant tears and prayers for all of our service men and women and their families.

Sara 10-08-2009 @ 3:07PM

This is why our guys go to war. To protect our families no matter how hard it is to let go of that little hand at the last possible moment.

Ginger 10-08-2009 @ 2:59PM

Mary your heart and head were in the right place. I too had instant tears and remembered how much I loved my own daddy, and how I still miss him even though he died over 20 years ago. I would have "pulled a Paige" too if I had been in her shoes.

I think these angry and mocking comments are a sad reflection about the authors and their lack of compassion for others. May God bless you anyway.

Lucy 10-08-2009 @ 2:32PM

I agree whole heartedly.

Dwight McInturff 10-08-2009 @ 2:41PM

WELL SAID. GOD BLESS EACH AND EVERYONE OF OUR MEN AND WOMEN AND CHILDREN AND SPOUSES THAT SERVE.

YES THEY ALL SERVE!

Wendy 10-08-2009 @ 2:47PM

Great comment.... I too had tears in my eyes.....

Susan 10-08-2009 @ 2:44PM

God Bless you Mary for being a peacemaker. My son leaves in a couple of weeks for another year in Iraq. I know how hard it is on my grandchildren when he leaves. And God Bless all the soldiers who do this for all the rest of us.............even those that hate them for being soldiers.

Kelly 10-08-2009 @ 2:48PM

That is awesome!

Dean 10-08-2009 @ 2:58PM

Just wanted to say well said and that I agree. The photo story was a real heart tugger. Too bad the next 4 comments are from email/website peddlers who are so annoying, and this thread stayed pretty good till comment 17 as to regarding political comments. Oh well. Was emailing my son in Afghanistan when I saw the story. Wish all the troops well and to be safe. Take care.

Erin 10-08-2009 @ 3:01PM

The picture says it all. I too was pregnant when my husband left for his 2nd deployment, and seeing the kids say bye to their daddies (there were no female soldiers there) broke my heart. It still does...
All of you out there who may be reading this, just keep all our service men and women, as well as their families in your thoughts and prayers. I can tell you from experience that it's greatly appreciated. And never forget all the brave men and women who've served in the past and present!